Unit standards in music : guidelines for non-specialist teachers in training in Botswana and the SADC region

Abstract:

This study details the growth of education in Botswana, with specific reference to the lack of development of Music as a subject. One of the main obstacles to the development of Music in schools has been the theoretical bias in the Colleges of Education, which generally ignore practical and instrumental work, including traditional instruments. This observation was noted during the pilot project of the draft Music syllabus in Botswana, which began in 1999 and continues until the end of 2001. What the teachers in training are taught bears little relation to the syllabus they are expected to teach in schools. Teacher trainers have little practical experience in music making and have little support from institutions that cannot relate to a perceived, noisy (music-filled) environment. Music lecturers have no experience of teaching Music at Primary or Secondary level, and began their own Music careers as adults, when they were sent to the University of Reading, England, for further studies, having expressed an interest in the subject. The training there appears to have been entirely theoretical. The aim of this study is to suggest and offer a course of work for use in teacher training institutions based on a three year/nine term academic programme, as presently followed in Botswana. Although the programme suggested correlates with the Music syllabus for Community Junior Secondary schools in Botswana, it can be used in other teacher training environments, such as training colleges, distance education modules or inservice courses. Following guidelines set by the Music Education Unit Standards for South Africa(MEUSSA) research team at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and the Department of Vocational Education and Training in Gaborone, Botswana, with reference to international standards and exit levels, this thesis supplies generic music unit standards for use in Botswana, but which are easily adaptable for other Southern Africa Development Community countries (SADC). The units contain Access statements, Range statements, Performance criteria, Evidence requirements and Support notes, which are based in the African tradition in the early stages, so that trainees have a familiar basis from which to spread their wings. At present, there are no suitable Music resources for use in Botswana. The thesis discusses educational research in Botswana concerning teaching methodology and the pertinent Government literature and recommendations.